Who the hell does Paul Rodgers think he is anyway, trying to replace Queen’s long dead but still revered frontman, Freddie Mercury? Even if guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor have given the former frontman of Bad Company and The Firm the go-sign, he’s trying to fill one awfully tight jumpsuit by taking over for Freddie.

Speaking to The Post from Nashville, Rodgers is emphatic about his role in the reformed Queen, which headlines the Continental Airlines Arena tonight and heads west to the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday.

“I’m not trying to replace Freddie – he’s irreplaceable,” Rodgers says. “What Queen built, they built together. What I asked myself when I took this job was, ‘Do I want to sing great songs with great musicians?’ Yes. It was that simple, everything else is secondary.”

The fans, who’ve been deprived of their Queen, in concert, for the last 23 years, seem to have the same attitude. In fact, the only two U.S. shows sold out in a flash (no pun intended).

“For now, we could only fit in New York and LA.,” Rodgers says. As for additional U.S. shows, he’s cagey, but brightly adds in his clipped English accent: “Anything’s possible.”

Fans who long ago thought they’d buried Queen forever would have to agree.

Were you and Freddie friends?

I didn’t know Freddie personally. We once met, in London, on the stairs to my manager’s office. We said hello musician-to-musician and that was it. But after singing his songs, I feel a close relationship with him now.

How did you prepare to work with his music?

I listened to him and studied his style. I needed to do that to get a gut feeling on what Queen was about and how I could step in and do the job – but remain myself at the same time.

Did you study Freddie’s style to imitate him?

If I tried to imitate Freddie, I’d look ridiculous. The fans see right through that kind of falseness.

What’s the difference between this Queen and Freddy’s Queen?

We’re less flamboyant and rockier. The other thing is we’re doing some of my material, too, and the band is giving my songs new snap.

The gay community wanted to see a Queen reunion fronted by George Michael a few years ago. Do you believe sexual orientation plays any role in the music of Queen?

George is a great singer, but no it doesn’t play a role. Sexual orietation, what’s that? It’s all about love, and whatever makes you happy, right?

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is just the quintessential Freddy Mercury/Queen song. Is that in your set?

It is, but we use it to pay respect to Freddie. I do a vocal duet with an old tape of Freddie singing. I think that’s another beautiful moment in the show.

Have the fans recognized the beauty and been respectful?

They’ve been incredible. They’ve received this with open arms and open minds. They’ve been accepting it for what it is.